Evangelism 101
Did you hear words this week like ‘Fire, lit, rizz, mid, mogged, main character vibes’?
I am amazed at how much 67 is used. Does anyone else feel this way?
Learning a New Language
To me, it has been so confusing. I really liked learning different languages in high school and seminary, but I don’t seem to be picking this one up very quickly. I often put my own definition to these words that I have heard in different contexts. Whatever it takes though, I am willing to learn the language of the current generation, so that I might best be prepared to communicate truth to this generation. And I hope you are too!!
I brought this idea up on Sunday in my message, because speaking to people about sin, salvation, grace, and Christ, who have no knowledge of the Bible, is like hearing the words of this generation. It can fall on deaf ears. It can be confusing. Or people add their own definition to the terms they hear.
When we teach people the Bible, to those who aren’t familiar with it, the words we use might sound foreign to them. And it feels like we don’t make any real progress in helping people know and love Jesus. And so we need to explain the terms and concepts, otherwise they will fill in their own definitions, or interpret them through their own worldview.
In part, that seems to be what was happening in Lystra. They didn’t have a Biblical framework for how to view the events that were taking place. Their traditions and worldview shaped their actions. Just as they often do for all of us.
They had no concept of the Bible. So Paul started at a different point with them.
A Lesson on Evangelism
In light of this, Paul teaches us a lot about evangelism. We see the relevance here for reaching a generation who has little to no knowledge of the Bible, compared to those who do (see Acts 2:14-40 and Acts 13:16-47). If there is little understanding of God, then it is helpful to start with who God is. And who we are. And then lead them to Jesus.
#1 – Establish common ground.
We need to see ourselves as sinners in need of God’s grace, if we are going to reach the people around us.
Paul said to the people, “We also are men, of like nature with you.”
We are no different. We are humans. We are fallen. We have the same nature.
This isn’t intended to minimize our sinful actions, but to help people see that we are sinners too, we just happen to sin in different ways. We can relate. We are not better than other people. We all stand in desperate need at the foot of the cross.
#2 – Expose idols of the heart.
If you struggle to discern your own idols, think through what you treasure most, what you trust in, what you devote your time and attention to, what you can’t live without? David Powlison, in his book called “Seeing With New Eyes” provides a great list of X-Ray Questions to expose our functional gods. Click here for the list.
#3 – Exalt God. Lead them to Christ.
At the end of the day, we have not gone far enough, if we only establish common ground and expose idols. Otherwise people still end up in despair and without hope.
We also have to draw people into an encounter with the One True and Living God. We have to reveal who God is and what He has done for us in Christ.
We must point people to the Savior who died on the cross and rose again, to rescue us from those idols, from our rebellion, from those things that hold us captive, that we might have joy and freedom and the hope of eternal life with Him forever!
Keep learning the culture. Keep learning about Christ! See the world through the lens of Scripture, so that you might speak words of life to your circles of influence.
This week: Read Acts 14:21-28
I am amazed at how much 67 is used. Does anyone else feel this way?
Learning a New Language
To me, it has been so confusing. I really liked learning different languages in high school and seminary, but I don’t seem to be picking this one up very quickly. I often put my own definition to these words that I have heard in different contexts. Whatever it takes though, I am willing to learn the language of the current generation, so that I might best be prepared to communicate truth to this generation. And I hope you are too!!
I brought this idea up on Sunday in my message, because speaking to people about sin, salvation, grace, and Christ, who have no knowledge of the Bible, is like hearing the words of this generation. It can fall on deaf ears. It can be confusing. Or people add their own definition to the terms they hear.
When we teach people the Bible, to those who aren’t familiar with it, the words we use might sound foreign to them. And it feels like we don’t make any real progress in helping people know and love Jesus. And so we need to explain the terms and concepts, otherwise they will fill in their own definitions, or interpret them through their own worldview.
In part, that seems to be what was happening in Lystra. They didn’t have a Biblical framework for how to view the events that were taking place. Their traditions and worldview shaped their actions. Just as they often do for all of us.
They had no concept of the Bible. So Paul started at a different point with them.
A Lesson on Evangelism
In light of this, Paul teaches us a lot about evangelism. We see the relevance here for reaching a generation who has little to no knowledge of the Bible, compared to those who do (see Acts 2:14-40 and Acts 13:16-47). If there is little understanding of God, then it is helpful to start with who God is. And who we are. And then lead them to Jesus.
#1 – Establish common ground.
We need to see ourselves as sinners in need of God’s grace, if we are going to reach the people around us.
Paul said to the people, “We also are men, of like nature with you.”
We are no different. We are humans. We are fallen. We have the same nature.
This isn’t intended to minimize our sinful actions, but to help people see that we are sinners too, we just happen to sin in different ways. We can relate. We are not better than other people. We all stand in desperate need at the foot of the cross.
#2 – Expose idols of the heart.
If you struggle to discern your own idols, think through what you treasure most, what you trust in, what you devote your time and attention to, what you can’t live without? David Powlison, in his book called “Seeing With New Eyes” provides a great list of X-Ray Questions to expose our functional gods. Click here for the list.
#3 – Exalt God. Lead them to Christ.
At the end of the day, we have not gone far enough, if we only establish common ground and expose idols. Otherwise people still end up in despair and without hope.
We also have to draw people into an encounter with the One True and Living God. We have to reveal who God is and what He has done for us in Christ.
We must point people to the Savior who died on the cross and rose again, to rescue us from those idols, from our rebellion, from those things that hold us captive, that we might have joy and freedom and the hope of eternal life with Him forever!
Keep learning the culture. Keep learning about Christ! See the world through the lens of Scripture, so that you might speak words of life to your circles of influence.
This week: Read Acts 14:21-28
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